Tuft-tube frame for weaving



Dec; 16, 1 2 1,519,987

4 W. BIXBY TUFT TUBE FRAME FOR WEAVING Filed Jan. 29, 1923 1- l L 1I I Z I .1 /5' t I Patented llec. 1 5, 192- 3.

KTE'D STATE-S WALTER IBIXBY, or BOSTON, M'As's-Aorrn'sn'rTs, nssrsrnon To SHAWMUT ENGINEER- ING COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSPLCHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

TUrT-TUBErRAME FOB, WEAVING.

Application filed January 29, 1923.

1 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VALTER BIXBY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuft-Tube Frames for eaving of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tuft tube frames used in weaving Axminster carpets or similar pile fabrics and is intended to improve and cheapen the supporting structure or frame by which the yarn spool and tuftguiding spools are held in proper cooperative relation for service.

One feature of the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the hollow carrier bar which forms the back bone of the tube frame, while other features relate to means by which such bar is con nected with suspension 'means for suspending it from the usual carrier chain, all of which will be set forth in detail in the following specification and will be defined in the claims annexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated some forms illustrative of the principles of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevationshowing the complete tube frame embodying the features of this invention. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear elevation showing one end portion of the view with its suspension members.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of such tube frame.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the carrier bar showing how the individual tuft tubes are connected therewith.

Figure 5 shows in end elevation a modified construction of carrier bar.

I Figure 6 shows still another modification of the carrier bar construction.

Figure 7 is a perspective showing a. portion of the tube-holding member.

According to the form of the inv en'tionillustrated in Figures-l to 4,'the longitudinal carrier bar 2 is formed of a single strip of sheet metal which is bent or pressed'to form a tubular body of approximately polygonal cross section. the longitudinaledge portions 13 and 14 of the strip being projected from one side or corner of the tubular body to form a laterally projecting longitudinal Serial No. 615,514.

ledge to afford support for the individual tuft-guiding tubes 3.

For the suspension of the carrier bar and yarn spool I provide end brackets or sus pension arms 4, having an inwardly offset projecting ear 5, forming a bearing for the journal of the yarn spool 1, and an outwardly and upwardly projecting chain-engaging or penetrating member 6 which cooperates with a swinging hook arm 7 to releasably engage the carrier chain by which the tube frames are carried to and from position of transfer 'to the loom in the wellknown manner.

The. hook arm 7 terminates at its lower end in an eye 7 which is passed through an aperture in the lower portion of the suspension hanger 4, and is held pivotally in place by a fulcrum pin 9 passing through the eye and located inside-of the hanger. A spring 8, mounted in a pocket, exerts an outward thrust on the hook to make the hook operatively engage the chain until released therefrom by an opposing pressure.

The hanger covers the open end of the tubular body portion 2 of the carrier bar, and then is extended downward to or be- .yond the lower edge of the ledge 13, its lowerend portion being bent to horizontal position parallel with the longitudinal axis of the carrier bar with its extreme end or tip 11 bent upwardly to engage the bottom wall of the tubular body 2. The suspension arm at is also provided with an inwardly projectin'g plate or bracket 4* which telescopes inside the tubular body and through the top wall of the tubular body and said bracket Bis passed a fastening bolt whose lower end is tapped into the horizontal portion 10 of the suspension arm. In this way the suspension'arm is rigidly and firmly attached'to the end of'the carrier bar the lower .p'or-tion of said suspension arm forming a bracket or foot to rest on the transfer cani or shoe which transfers the tube frame at the propertime to the loom for the purpose of inserting the tufts in the fabric being weven. A spring arm 12, secured to the top of the carrier bar, acts as a brake to retard the rotation of the spool.

The individual tubes 3 may be securedto the carrier bar by any suitable means. In the form shown in Figures 1 and 4, I em ploy a tube-holding member 16, having parallel projecting flanges which are provided with corresponding tube-receiving apertures in registry with each other to afford support for the individual tubes at two different levels intermediate of their ends, the rear or intake ends of the tubes resting against a longitudinal bowed spring plate 17 to preserve a spring-holdmg tension against the rear ends of the tubes and form a guide for the tuft yarn as it unwinds from the spool and passes into the tubes. In this form the flanged holding member is a separate piece riveted or otherwise secured to the supporting ledge formed by the projecting ledges 13, 14 of the sheet metal forming the carrier bar.

Instead of forming the carrier bar from a single piece of sheet metal it may, for convenience in manufacture, as shown in Figure 5, be formed of two strips 2, and 2 with their inner or connecting edges rolled or folded together as at 2, while the flanges 13 and 14, as in the previously described form, overlap each other andproject laterally wi'th a row of rivets 15 uniting them to a tube-receiving and holding member 16. In this: case the tube 3, is slotted as shown at 3 to form a spring engagement with the edge of its surrounding aperture in the rearmost flange of the holding member 16. The infolded joint 2 may form a projecting rib forming a protective guide to prevent the yarn from scraping against the rearmost edge of the tube at the intake end thereof.

In Figure 6 the tubular body 20 is formed inone piece with its longitudinal edge portions 21 and 22 brought face to face and riveted together, but in that case each proj ecting edge portion is made sufficiently long to form projecting lips 23 and 24; which are apertured to permit the insertion of the individual tuft tubes in a manner similar to that indicated in Figure 4. In this case the carrier bar body and the tube-spacing and holding ribs or members are formed integrally with each other. 7

VVhatI claim is: I 1' v 1. In a tuft tube frame for weaving pile fabrics, a hollow carrier bar formed of sheet metal bent to form a tube of substantially polygonal cross section with longitudinal edges of the sheet forming an externally projecting flange or ledge firmly united together and affording support for the tuft tubes, substantially as described.

2. A carrier bar for a tuft tube frame comprising a sheet metal strip bent to form a hollow tube with an externally projecting longitudinal flange consisting of two longitudinal edges of the sheet strip brought face to face and united together in order toclose the tube and afford a supporting ledge for positioning the tuft tubes, substantially as described.

3. A carrier bar for a tuft tube frame embracing a hollow body formed by bending sheet metal into a tube of substantially polygonal cross section with the longitudinal edges projecting laterally beyond said tubular body to form an external ledgeand a longitudinal aperturecl tube-holding me1nher, said tube-holding member and said proj ecting ledge being secured together to afford a firm support for the individual tuft tubes, substantially as described. 7

4. A carrier bar for a tube frame comprising one or more strips of sheet metal pressed into substantially polygonal form with the outer longitudinal edges brought together and united to form a longitudinal ledge projecting from a longitudinal edge of the tube to form an external extension of one side of the tube, and a longitudinalseries of tuft tubes secured to said ledge transversely thereof, substantially as described.

5. A carrier bar for a tuft tube frame embracing in its construction a sheet metal tubular body with an integrally formed ex ternally projecting ledge provided with offset parallel flanges having corresponding tube-receiving openings, substantially as described.

6; In a tube frame for tuft-weaving, the combination with a tubular carrier-bar formed with integral laterally projecting edge portions forming an extension of the front wall of the carrier-bar beyond the bottom wall thereof to support the tuft tubes in position for use, vertical end hangers extending across the open ends of the carrier- 'bar to substantially the level of the lower edge of said extension and inwardly turned to form supporting feet adapted to properly seat in the tube frame transferring devices, substantially as described. 7

7 In a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combinationof a tubular carrier bar provided with an integral projecting ledge forming a lateral extension of the frontwall of the carrier bar to support the tuft tubes,

'llO

suspension hangers extending across the i open ends of the tubular bar to substantially the lower edge of said extension and inwardly turned toform attaching and supporting wings at the level .of said lower edge, said hangers being also provided with bar-attaching wings in lapped engagement with the top wall of said carrier-bar,"and

fastening screws passing through top and bottom walls of the bar and through both upper and lower wings to rigidly secure the hanger and the bar rigidly together, substantially as described. 7

g 8. In a tube frame, the combination of a longitudinal tubular carrier bar for holding the tubes, and suspension hangers rigidly secured to opposite ends of the carrier bar, the lower ends of said hangers being turned in- Wardly some distance below the carrier bar and then turned upwardly to form engagement with the bottom face of the carrier bar, substantially as described.

9. A carrier bar for a tube frame, e111- bracing a tubular bar having laterally offset from its front face integral projecting ledge portions formed with registering apertures for receiving and holding the individual tuft tubes in orderly relation for use, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

WALTER BIXBY. 

